Freelance Writer

Fifty States Of Fiction: Nevada

We can’t always travel to the places on our bucket list. But we can go there with books! I started the Fifty States Of Fiction challenge with the aim of reading one book from every state in the country. Each week in 2017 I’ll be here to talk about a different state, share with you some geographical fun facts, and explore how a novel, play, or personal narrative captures the essence of the area. Want to follow along? Check out this free printable calendar I’ve created just for you! Let’s get started!

Today’s State: Nevada

Nickname: Silver State

Motto: “All for Our Country”

Bird: Mountain bluebird

Flower: Sagebrush

Entered the union in: 1864

Now, pack your bags everybody. We’re about to explore Nevada as Justin Cronin portrays it in The Passage.

When the travelers arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada, they have no idea they’re walking right into a trap. They arrive from the south as the sun begins to set on the ruined city. The overpass at Highway 215 has crumbled into jagged slabs of concrete. Barricades of broken cars block many of the streets, turning the city into one big maze. Once they pass the Army’s defensive perimeter, a cluster of abandoned tanks and wire-topped concrete walls at the city’s edge, they search for a place to hide. Untamed weeds cling to the underside of the crawling Humvee. Around them, a forest of buildings reaches up towards the sky. Once grandiose, these structures have been reduced to towering metal skeletons as a result of the war. When the sun disappears, the temperature plummets. The group pulls up to the Milagro Hotel and Casino and ventures inside to take cover from any lurking virals. Only Amy would be safe outside in the dark. In the basement kitchen, the stink of fumes introduces an ominous feeling. Eventually they find refuge in the Haven, a viral-free settlement established in the Desert Wells State Penitentiary and Conservation Camp. But are they really safe here? Dream on.

Have you read any other books set in Nevada? Have you traveled there yourself? Make sure to let me know what the Silver State means to you in the comments! Check back here next week to explore New Hampshire through literature.

And remember, if you want to keep up with our schedule as we travel the country, you can download my free printable calendar.